Jakarta. Indonesia is inviting Canadian investors to explore opportunities in critical minerals, clean energy, food security and artificial intelligence as the two countries prepare to implement their comprehensive economic partnership agreement.

Chief of Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto made the invitation during the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) Executive Dialogue, held on the sidelines of the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on Monday, Sept. 14.

The forum brought together business leaders, investors and government representatives from Canada and ASEAN to strengthen economic ties and explore opportunities for cooperation.

Airlangga praised CABC for serving as a bridge to strengthen business relations between Canadian companies and ASEAN member states.

“Indonesia offers Canadian and ASEAN investors a market that is not only large, but also stable and disciplined in managing its growth,” Airlangga said.

He also encouraged CABC members to capitalize on the momentum toward implementing the Indonesia-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ICA-CEPA), which was signed by the two countries' trade ministers and witnessed by their respective leaders in Ottawa in 2025.

ICA-CEPA marks Canada's first bilateral trade agreement with an ASEAN member state and Indonesia's first comprehensive economic partnership with North America.

“ICA-CEPA is the right instrument at the right time,” Airlangga said.

Under the agreement, Canada will eliminate or reduce tariffs on more than 90% of its tariff lines for Indonesian products, while Indonesia will do the same for nearly 86% of its tariff lines for Canadian products.

The agreement also opens opportunities for cooperation in sectors that complement the strengths of both countries, including critical mineral processing, particularly nickel and battery materials, clean and renewable energy, agri-food and sustainable fisheries, infrastructure, and financial and digital services.

Airlangga invited investors and business leaders to explore these sectors further, emphasizing that the Indonesian government was actively developing frameworks to support investment and cooperation.

Both countries have completed the ratification of ICA-CEPA and are now discussing further technical arrangements, including rules of origin.

Airlangga stressed that engaging businesses early was essential to ensuring that the agreement delivers tangible benefits once it takes effect.

“Today's dialogue is important because, ultimately, business players such as CABC members will be the ones to realize the benefits of ICA-CEPA. I encourage this forum to serve as a platform for two-way exchanges of ideas, and I also hope that the input gathered today can be translated into concrete follow-up actions,” he said.

During the visit, Airlangga also delivered remarks at a CABC reception alongside Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, inviting greater Canadian investment in Indonesia's strategic sectors, including critical minerals, energy transition, food security and artificial intelligence.

He also met with AtkinsRéalis CEO Ian L. Edwards to discuss developments in nuclear energy cooperation and Sun Life CEO Kevin D. Strain to strengthen Indonesia-Canada cooperation in the financial sector.

The forum was attended by Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu, Brunei Darussalam's Second Minister of Finance Dato Dr. Amin Liew Abdullah, CABC President Wayne Farmer, and business and investment leaders from ASEAN and Canada.

Members of the Indonesian delegation accompanying Airlangga included Indonesian Ambassador to Canada Muhsin Syihab, Coordinating Economic Affairs Ministry Secretary Susiwijono Moegiarso, Deputy for Economic Cooperation and Investment Coordination Edi Prio Pambudi, and Indonesian Consul General in Toronto Vevie Damayanti.

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